Chemical profiles and bioactivities of polyphenolic extracts of Lavandula stoechas L., Artemisia dracunculus L. and Ocimum basilicum L.

This study assessed the chemical profiles and bioactivities of the infusions, decoctions and hydroethanolic extracts of tarragon, basil and French lavender. The extracts were chemically characterised (HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS) and their bioactivities were evaluated in vitro. All extracts revealed antimicrobial, antifungal and antioxidant properties. French lavender extracts showed higher total phenolic content, regardless of the extraction method used, and antioxidant and antitumour capacities, but no anti-inflammatory action. All basil and two of the tarragon extracts revealed anti-inflammatory power. Thus, tarragon, basil and French lavender extracts may be considered for inclusion in foods, as preservatives or functional ingredients. Nonetheless, further studies must be conducted to evaluate the pharmacokinetic parameters of the bioactive compounds.

Risk Factors for Potential Drug-Drug Interactions in Outpatients with Dyslipidemia.

Background: Patients with dyslipidemia are usually multimorbid and require polypharmacy. Therefore, it is important to identify potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) in time to prevent their consequences. We aimed to identify and analyze risk factors contributing to their occurrence to guide health professionals. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study of 216 outpatients with dyslipidemia was conducted from May 2021 to April 2022 in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro. pDDIs were identified using Medscape, Epocrates, and Drugs online interaction checkers. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to evaluate the potential predictors of interactions. Results: pDDIs were detected in 212 (98.1%) participants, whereas pDDIs with high clinical significance were detected in 25.46%, 40.74%, and 58.8% of subjects by Drugs, Epocrates, and Medscape, respectively. Polypharmacy emerged as a risk factor for the occurrence of pDDIs in all three checkers in each category of clinical significance. The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antiplatelet drugs contributes to the incidence of severe pDDIs B=1.014, 95%CI 0.681-1.346, P=0.000 and B=0.492, 95%CI 0.286-0.698, P=0.000, by Epocrates and Medscape respectively. The number of prescribers per patient was a protective factor against moderate pDDI B= -0.858, 95%CI -1.572-(-0.144), P=0.019 and B= -0.956, 95%CI -1.671-(-0.241), P=0.009, by Medscape and Epocrates, respectively, but a risk factor for the occurrence of minor pDDIs B=0.373, 95%CI 0.033-0.712 P=0.032 and B=0.143, 95%CI 0.042-0.244, P=0.006, by the same checkers. Conclusion: Knowledge of the risk factors contributing to the occurrence of pDDIs is important for the development and implementation of strategies for their prevention, and given the high prevalence of dyslipidemia, understanding these factors seems crucial nowadays.

Phytochemical Composition and Bioactive Potential of Melissa officinalis L., Salvia officinalis L. and Mentha spicata L. Extracts.

Plants are rich in bioactive phytochemicals that often display medicinal properties. These can play an important role in the production of health-promoting food additives and the replacement of artificial ones. In this sense, this study aimed to characterise the polyphenolic profile and bioactive properties of the decoctions, infusions and hydroethanolic extracts of three plants: lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.), sage (Salvia officinalis L.) and spearmint (Mentha spicata L.). Total phenolic content ranged from 38.79 mg/g extract to 84.51 mg/g extract, depending on the extract. The main phenolic compound detected in all cases was rosmarinic acid. The results highlighted that some of these extracts may have the ability to prevent food spoilage (due to antibacterial and antifungal effects) and promote health benefits (due to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacities) while not displaying toxicity against healthy cells. Furthermore, although no anti-inflammatory capacity was observed from sage extracts, these stood out for often displaying the best outcomes in terms of other bioactivities. Overall, the results of our research provide insight into the potential of plant extracts as a source of active phytochemicals and as natural food additives. They also support the current trends in the food industry of replacing synthetic additives and developing foods with added beneficial health effects beyond basic nutrition.

A Comparative Study of Lactarius Mushrooms: Chemical Characterization, Antibacterial, Antibiofilm, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activity.

Mushrooms are valued worldwide for their nutritional, organoleptic and chemical properties. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition (free sugars, organic acids, fatty acids, tocopherols and phenolic compounds) and bioactivity of three wild mushrooms (Lactarius piperatus, Lactarius quietus and Lactarius vellereus) from Serbia. Chemical analysis was performed with HPLC-RI and UFLC-PDA (for hydrophilic compounds) and with GC-FID and HPLC-FP (for lipophilic compounds). The analysis of phenolic compounds was performed by UFLC-DAD. Biological activities were evaluated using three different assays (microdilution, TBARS and SRB assays). The results showed that the fruiting bodies were rich in mannitol and trehalose. The main organic acids were oxalic acid and citric acid. As for lipophilic components, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids and ß-tocopherol dominated in all the species studied. In addition, the methanolic and ethanolic extracts obtained showed antibacterial, antibiofilm and antioxidant properties. As for cytotoxicity, the extracts were not toxic or only moderately toxic toward different tumor cell lines. According to the results, the selected Serbian mushrooms are a rich source of bioactive compounds, and due to their good biological potential, they can be further exploited as functional ingredients beneficial to human health (antimicrobial agents, antioxidants).

Analysis of Tonsil Tissues from Patients Diagnosed with Chronic Tonsillitis-Microbiological Profile, Biofilm-Forming Capacity and Histology.

Chronic tonsillitis (CT) is a global health issue which can impair patient's quality of life and has an important socioeconomic impact due to the nonrational use of antibiotics, increased antimicrobial resistance and frequent need for surgical treatment. In order to isolate and identify the causing agents of CT, a total of 79 postoperative palatine and adenoid tissue samples were obtained from the ENT Clinic, KBC Zvezdara, Belgrade, Serbia. Culture identification was performed by MALDI-TOF MS and the Staphylococcus aureus isolates were tested for biofilm forming capability and antibiotic susceptibility. Additionally, a histological examination of palatine and adenoid tissue was performed in order to detect the presence of CT-causing bacteria. The slight majority of participants were females with median age of 28 years for adult patients (group I) and 6 years for children (group II). Analysis of the incidence of bacteria isolated from tissue samples in both groups showed the highest prevalence of S. aureus, Streptococcus oralis and Streptococcus parasanquinis. In addition to interfollicular hyperplasia, colonies of species S. aureus were detected in histological material. The presence of biofilm might be the reason for the recurrence of infection. Therefore, searching for a new treatment of CT is of great importance.

Chemical Profile and Skin-Beneficial Activities of the Petal Extracts of Paeonia tenuifolia L. from Serbia.

Without being aware of its chemical makeup, many ancient societies have used Steppe peony in their traditional medicine. Given that modern phytopreparation intended for use on human skin requires, above all, knowledge of its chemical composition, the goal of this study was to make a screening of the composition of aqueous and methanolic extracts of the petals of P. tenuifolia L. and to examine them for various skin-beneficial properties. The extracts were prepared by maceration, ultrasound-assisted, and microwave-assisted extraction procedures. The chemical profiling was conducted by the use of UHPLC-LTQ-OrbiTrap MS and UHPLC/MS, and spectrophotometric methods for the determination of total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents. The biological activities entailed antioxidant ABTS, DPPH, CUPRAC (Cupric Ion Reducing Antioxidant Capacity), and FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) assays, antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) and antibiofilm activities, cytotoxicity, wound healing potential, as well as the adhesion and invasion of Staphylococcus lugdunensis. The results showed that the petals are rich in phenolic acids and flavonoids, which are commonly associated with numerous biological activities. The aqueous extracts were more efficient in the majority of the bioactivity assays then the methanolic ones, whereas the optimal extraction method varied between the assays. This study is the first step towards the safe use of the aqueous extracts of P. tenuifolia petals for therapeutic skin treatments.

Resource Use and Costs Related to Hematological Complications of Chemotherapy: Cost of Illness Study Based on Data from Balkan Country with Recent History of Socioeconomic Transition.

Background: The administration of chemotherapy positively correlates with diverse adverse drug reactions, including the significant impact of hematological hazards such as anemia, leukopenia-neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and pancytopenia. This pilot pharmacoeconomic study aimed to estimate the total direct costs of treating hematological toxicity induced by chemotherapy and its main determinants. Methods: The study was conducted as a retrospective cost of illness study using the "from bottom to the top" approach from the perspective of the Republic Health Insurance Fund. This study included 88 patients treated due to developing at least one episode of one of the types of hematological complications of cytostatics in 2018 at the Oncology Clinic of the University Clinical Center Kragujevac, Kragujevac, the Republic of Serbia. Results: Among cancer patients who developed haematological toxicity, treating pancytopenia was most demanding in a pharmacoeconomic manner compared to neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, with an estimated value of direct costs of 264,14, 178,19 and 157,76 euros per patient per year respectively. Regarding total direct costs, the main determinants were the costs of drugs, their parenteral administration, and costs due to hospitalization. Conclusion: Due to the rising cancer incidence and obligatory hospital treatment of hematological toxicity induced by chemotherapy, the identification of the pharmacoeconomic aspects of the treatment of these complications is needed. Future research should focus on the development of new modalities of treatment regarding patient characteristics anticipating high costs.

Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Cytotoxic, and Antimicrobial Activities of Cardoon Blades at Different Growth Stages.

Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus var. altilis) blades were collected at sixteen sampling dates (B1-B16) to study the influence of the phenological growth stage on the phenolic composition and biological properties. Twenty phenolic compounds were identified, among which trans 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and luteolin-O-hexoside (39.6, 42.6, and 101.0 mg/g extract, respectively) were the main compounds. Immature blades (B3) had a higher content of phenolic compounds (178 mg/g extract) and a greater ability to inhibit the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (IC50 of 1.61 µg/mL). Samples at more advanced growth stages revealed a greater capacity to inhibit oxidative hemolysis (B8, IC50 of 25 and 47.4 µg/mL for Δt of 60 and 120 min, respectively) and higher cytotoxic (B8-B13, GI50 between 7.1 and 17 µg/mL), anti-inflammatory (B13, IC50 of 10 µg/mL), and antibacterial activities. In turn, the antifungal activity varied depending on the tested fungi. All these results suggest that maturity influences the phenolic composition and bioactive properties of cardoon blades, which reveal great potential for the development of bioactive ingredients for food and pharmaceutical applications, among others.

Diselenides and Selenocyanates as Versatile Precursors for the Synthesis of Pharmaceutically Relevant Compounds.

Organoselenium chemistry has undergone extensive development during the past decades, mostly due to the unique chemical properties of organoselenium compounds that have been widely explored in a number of synthetic transformations, as well as due to the interesting biological properties of these compounds. Diselenides and selenocyanates constitute the promising classes of organoselenium compounds that possess interesting biological effects, and that can be used in the preparation of other selenium compounds. The combination of diselenide and selenocyanate moieties with other biologically relevant molecules (such as heterocycles, steroids, etc.) is a way for the development of compounds with promising pharmaceutical potential. Therefore, the aim of this review is to highlight the recent achievements in the use of diselenides or selenocyanates as precursors for the synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant compounds, preferentially compounds with antitumor and antimicrobial activities.

Phenolic Composition and Biological Properties of Cynara cardunculus L. var. altilis Petioles: Influence of the Maturity Stage.

Hydroethanolic extracts of cardoon petioles collected at sixteen growth stages (P1-P16) were characterized in terms of their phenolic composition and bioactive potential (antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities). Fifteen phenolic compounds were tentatively identified (i.e., ten phenolic acids and five flavonoid glycosides); the main compounds were 5-O-caffeoylquinic and 1,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acids. Samples collected at early maturity (P1-P4) presented a weak positive correlation between the higher content in polyphenols (P3: 101-mg/g extract) and better inhibition capacity against thiobarbituric acid reactive substance formation (TBARS; P3: IC50 = 5.0 µg/mL). Samples at intermediate maturation stages (P9) presented higher cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory potential. Moreover, immature petioles showed greater antihemolytic (OxHLIA; P4: IC50 = 65 and 180 µg/mL for Δt of 60 and 120 min, respectively) and antibacterial activity. The antifungal activity varied depending on the maturation stage and the fungi strain. In conclusion, the maturation stage may greatly affect the polyphenols composition and content and the bioactive potential of cardoon petioles.

New Evidence for Artemisia absinthium L. Application in Gastrointestinal Ailments: Ethnopharmacology, Antimicrobial Capacity, Cytotoxicity, and Phenolic Profile.

Artemisia absinthium L. (Asteraceae) is traditionally used for gastrointestinal ailments and disorders linked to numerous risk factors including microbial infections. We aimed to provide contemporary evidence for its ethnopharmacological use and determine its antimicrobial capacity and mode of action, cytotoxicity, and phenolic constituents. Ethnopharmacological survey was conducted using semistructured interviews. Antimicrobial and antibiofilm capacities were determined by microdilution/crystal violet assay, respectively. Modes of action tested include estimation of exopolysaccharide production (congo red binding assay) and interference with membrane integrity (crystal violet uptake and nucleotide leakage assay). Cytotoxicity was determined using crystal violet assay. Polyphenolic profiling was done by advanced liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (UHPLC-LTQ OrbiTrap MS). Artemisia absinthium in Serbia is traditionally used for gastrointestinal disorders, among others. Further study revealed high antifungal capacity of herb ethanolic extract towards range of Candida species (MIC 0.5-1 mg/mL) along with promising antibacterial activities (MIC 0.25-4 mg/mL). Interference with membrane integrity could be observed as a possible antimicrobial mechanism. Antibiofilm potential can be considered as high (towards C. krusei) to limited (towards P. aeruginosa) and moderate based on reduction in exopolysaccharide content. In concentrations up to 400 µg/mL, no cytotoxicity was observed towards HaCaT and HGF-1 cell lines. Polyphenolic analysis revealed twenty-one different constituents. A. absinthium usage as a gastrointestinal ailment remedy has been confirmed in vitro by its antimicrobial capacity towards microorganisms whose presence is linked to the diseases and associated complications and noncytotoxic nature of the natural product. The observed activities could be attributed to the present phenolic compounds.

Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Studies of Organoselenium trans-Palladium(II) Complexes.

BACKGROUND: Over the years, transition metal complexes have exhibited significant antimicrobial and antitumor activity. It all started with cisplatin discovery, but due to the large number of side effects it shows, there is a growing need to find a new metal-based compound with higher selectivity and activity on more tumors. OBJECTIVES: Two novel trans-palladium(II) complexes with organoselenium compounds as ligands, [Pd(L1)2Cl2] (L1 = 5-(phenylselanylmethyl)-dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one) and [Pd(L2)2Cl2] (L2 = 2- methyl-5-(phenylselanylmethyl)- tetrahydrofuran) were synthesized, in the text referred to as Pd-Se1 and Pd-Se2. Also, a structurally similar trans-palladium(II) complex, [Pd(L3)2Cl2] (L3= 2,2- dimethyl-3-(phenylselanylmethyl)-tetrahydro-2H-pyran) was synthesized according to an already published work and is referred to as Pd-Se3. The interaction of synthesized complexes with DNA and bovine serum albumin was observed. Also, antimicrobial activity and in vitro testing, cell viability, and cytotoxic effects of synthesized ligands and complexes on human epithelial colorectal cancer cell line HCT-116 were studied. Molecular docking simulations were performed to understand better the binding modes of the complexes reported in this paper with DNA and BSA, as well as to comprehend their antimicrobial activity. METHODS: The interactions of the synthesized complexes with DNA and bovine serum albumin were done using UV-Vis and emission spectral studies as well as docking studies. Antimicrobial activity was tested by determining the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum microbicidal concentration (MMC) using the resazurin microdilution plate method. Cytotoxic activity on cancer cells was studied by MTT test. RESULTS: The Pd(II) complexes showed a significant binding affinity for calf thymus DNA and bovine serum albumin by UV-Vis and emission spectral studies. The intensity of antimicrobial activity varied with the complexes Pd-Se1 and Pd-Se3, showing significantly higher activity than the corresponding ligand. The most significant activity was shown on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Under standardized laboratory conditions for in vitro testing, cell viability and cytotoxic effects of synthesized ligands and complexes were studied on human epithelial colorectal cancer cell line HCT-116, where Pd-Se2 showed some significant cytotoxic effects. CONCLUSION: The newly synthesized complexes have the potential to be further investigated as metallodrugs.

Seasonal variation in bioactive properties and phenolic composition of cardoon (Cynara cardunculus var. altilis) bracts.

Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) bracts were collected at different maturation stages to investigate seasonal changes in the phenolic compounds profile and in vitro bioactivities. Among the 12 phenolic compounds tentatively identified, 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (21.83 mg/g extract) and apigenin-7-O-glucuronide (10.6 mg/g extract) were the most abundant. Immature bracts (C1: principal growth stage (PGS) 5) had the highest phenolic compounds content, and anti-inflammatory (IC50 = 72 µg/mL) and cytotoxic (GI50 of 30-79 µg/mL) activities. Moreover, extract C1 inhibited efficiently the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS; IC50 = 26.8 µg/mL), while extract C8 (PGS 8/9) was more effective against oxidative haemolysis (IC50 38 and 75 µg/mL). The highest antibacterial and antifungal activities were attributed to samples C1 and C6 (PGS 7/8) and samples C2 (PGS 5/6) and C4 (PGS 6/7), respectively. Overall, the obtained results suggest the seasonal changes of polyphenolic composition and bioactivity of cardoon bracts of variable maturity.

The Effect of Nitrogen Input on Chemical Profile and Bioactive Properties of Green- and Red-Colored Basil Cultivars.

In the present study, three red-colored (Dark Opal, Basilico Rosso, and Red Basil) and one green-colored landrace (Mitikas) of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) were grown under four nitrogen regimes, namely Control (no fertilizer added), 200 ppm, 400 ppm, and 600 ppm of nitrogen (N). Fresh yield varied depending on N input following a quadratic function in all four genotypes, and green basil performed better compared to the red cultivars. A significant interaction of genotype × N input was recorded for most of the chemical parameters measured. Tocopherols contents of leaves were consistently higher in plants that received 200 ppm of N and lower in those receiving 600 ppm of N, especially in Dark Opal and Red Basil cultivars. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were the major category of fatty acids and Red Basil had the lowest ratio of omega-6/omega 3 (0.29) and thus the best fatty acid profile. Polyphenols content was the highest in Red Basil and Dark Opal (25 mg/g of extract on average) and the lowest in Mitikas and decreased with increasing N input. Similarly, antioxidant activity was the highest in Dark Opal and Red Basil fertigated with 200 ppm of N, whereas all the leaf extracts tested had good antibacterial and antifungal activity. In conclusion, basil chemical and bioactive profile was significantly influenced by both genotype and N input. Red-colored basil, although less productive, had the best chemical profile, and moderate levels of N input may provide the best compromise between yield, nutritional value, and bioactivity for the species.

Antioxidant Extracts of Three Russula Genus Species Express Diverse Biological Activity.

This study explored the biological properties of three wild growing Russula species (R. integra, R. rosea, R. nigricans) from Serbia. Compositional features and antioxidant, antibacterial, antibiofilm, and cytotoxic activities were analyzed. The studied mushroom species were identified as being rich sources of carbohydrates and of low caloric value. Mannitol was the most abundant free sugar and quinic and malic acids the major organic acids detected. The four tocopherol isoforms were found, and polyunsaturated fatty acids were the predominant fat constituents. Regarding phenolic compounds, P-hydroxybenzoic and cinnamic acids were identified in the prepared methanolic and ethanolic extracts, which displayed antioxidant activity through the inhibition of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation and oxidative hemolysis; the highest activity was attributed to the R. nigricans ethanolic extract. This is the first report on the antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of the studied species, with the most promising activity observed towards Streptococcus spp. (0.20-0.78 mg/mL as the minimal inhibitory concentration, MIC). The most promising cytotoxic effect was caused by the R. integra methanolic extract on non-small cell lung cancer cells (NCI-H460). Therefore, due to the observed in vitro bioactive properties, the studied mushrooms arise as a source of functional ingredients with potential to be used in novel nutraceutical and drug formulations, which can be used in the treatment of various diseases and health conditions.

Seasonal variation of bioactive properties and phenolic composition of Cynara cardunculus var. altilis.

Cynara cardunculus L. (cardoon) has several health benefits mainly attributed to its abundance in polyphenols. In this study, cardoon heads (capitula) were harvested in Greece during the flowering stage, and the hydroethanolic extracts were assessed in terms of phenolic compounds composition and antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. The phenolic profile was evaluated by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS to better understand the seasonal changes in the individual compound levels and how these changes correlate with bioactive properties. The main phenolic compounds identified were caffeoylquinic and dicaffeoylquinic acid derivatives. Immature heads (Car A: principal growth stage (PGS) 5) had the highest phenolic content (34.3 mg/g) and cytotoxic (GI50 of 69-268 µg/mL) and anti-inflammatory (IC50 of 183 µg/mL) activities. Sample Car D (PGS 6/7) revealed the highest antioxidant (IC50 of 23-227 µg/mL) and antifungal (MIC of 0.26-0.51 mg/mL) potential. Regarding the antibacterial activity, Car E (PGS 7) revealed the best results (MIC of 0.59-1.18 mg/mL). This study suggests that the maturity stage of the plant influences the phenolic composition and bioactivity.

Plant Extracts and Isolated Compounds Reduce Parameters of Oxidative Stress Induced by Heavy Metals: An up-to-Date Review on Animal Studies.

BACKGROUND: Heavy metals are elements that are naturally found in the earth. They are used in many modern-day applications in agriculture, medicine, and industry. Heavy metal poisoning occurs when the body's soft tissues absorb too much of a particular metal. The heavy metals of interest for this review paper were cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and lead since these are the most common metals that the human body can absorb in toxic amounts. Different plant species were investigated in recent years for their effect on oxidative stress parameters after intoxication with heavy metals. OBJECTIVES: This review paper is focused on the current update to research on heavy metals induced oxidative stress in animal models and improvement of the oxidative stress parameters upon/co-/after treatment with different plant extracts and isolated compounds. METHODS: The available literature was screened for the novel data regarding the influence of plant extracts and compounds on heavy metals induced oxidative stress. For that purposes Scopus database was used, looking for the publications in the last 5-10 years with the key terms: plant extracts, oxidative stress, in vivo, cadmium, lead, mercury and arcenic. RESULTS: Various parameters of oxidative stress were investigated, and their improvement with plant extracts/ compounds was observed in the brain, lungs, kidneys, liver, uterus, testis, thymus, spleen, heart, skin and blood of experimental animals. Common parameters used to determine oxidative stress in animals were: superoxide dismutase; catalase; reduced glutathione; glutathione reductase; glutathione-S-transferase; glutathione peroxidase; lipid peroxidation; oxidized glutathione; malondialdehyde; xanthine oxidase; nonprotein-soluble thiol; thioredoxin reductase; total sulphydryl group; nitric oxide; γ-glutamyl cysteine synthetase. CONCLUSION: The most investigated species for antioxidant effects upon intoxication with heavy metals seem to be Allium sp., Bacopa monniera, Camellia sinensis, Moringa oleifera, Vitis vinifera and Zingiber officinale. According to literature data, the most promising effect to alleviate symptoms of intoxication was achieved with proanthocyanidins obtained from Vitis vinifera.

Contemporary surgical management of drug-resistant focal epilepsy.

Introduction: Seizures, which could not be controlled by drug therapy, have profound negative influence on the quality of life of the affected person. If with clear locus of origin and accompanied by loss of consciousness, drug-resistant epilepsy could be treated by surgery.Areas covered: The aim of this article was to review current status of epilepsy surgery through description of the most important operative methods and narrative comparison of their benefits and harms. In total 1154 articles were retrieved from MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EBSCO, and SCINDEKS databases, and 78 included in the review. The review included systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical trials, observational studies on humans, case series, and case reports.Expert opinion: Sophisticated diagnostic methods nowadays offer much more precise localization of epileptogenic focus and detailed planning of a surgical procedure which will make minimal damage of neural pathways and structures essential for movements, speech, cognition, and emotions. Advent of perioperative care, and improved diagnostics and surgical techniques resulted with significant drop in rates of postoperative complications, long-term neurological deficit, and mortality in the last decade, while seizure freedom rate and quality of life increased.

Promising Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Food Colourants from Lonicera caerulea L. var. Kamtschatica.

Lonicera caerulea L. (haskap) berries are widely known for their richness in anthocyanins. In this study, such fruits were assessed for their nutritional and chemical composition, but also as sources of anthocyanins with great colouring properties to be applied in foodstuff. Haskap presented high levels of water, four free sugars (mainly fructose and glucose), five organic acids (mainly citric, malic, and quinic), α- and γ-tocopherol, twenty fatty acids (with prevalence of linoleic acid), and eight phenolic compounds, among which six were anthocyanins (mainly cyanidin-3-O-glucoside). The extract presented great antioxidant properties, evaluated through TBARS and OxHLIA assays, as well as antimicrobial capacity against six bacteria and six fungi. Two colourants were obtained by spray-drying haskap juice with maltodextrin and a mixture of maltodextrin and arabic gum. These formulations were stable over 12 weeks of storage at room and refrigerated temperature, without significant variations in colour parameters and in anthocyanins concentration. They were considered safe for consumption once neither microbial contamination nor cytotoxicity in non-tumour cells were detected. The results obtained allow for the consideration of haskap as a promising source of colourants to be applied not only in the food industry, but also in other fields that rely on artificial colourants.

Could Flavonoids Compete with Synthetic Azoles in Diminishing Candida albicans Infections? A Comparative Review Based on In Vitro Studies.

Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds with already confirmed various health benefits. This review will shed light on flavonoids as potential antifungals in Candida albicans infections. C. albicans is an opportunistic pathogen able to cause serious health issues due to numerous virulence factors amplifying its pathogenicity. One of the most important virulence factors is Candida ability to form biofilms which are highly resistant to the treatment of antifungal drugs; making diminishing of this pathogen even more challenging. This review will focus on current knowledge on individual flavonoid compounds having the potential to deal with C. albicans in vitro, with special turn on antibiofilm potential and insight into the mode of action, where available. Majority of the commercial drugs for the treatment of candidiasis belong to azole class, so the activity of flavonoids will be compared with the activity of newly synthetized azole compounds, as well as with azole drugs that are already on the market as official therapeutics. This literature review will provide pros and cons for pushing future research towards exploring novel synthetic azoles or further examination of a wide pallet of natural flavonoids.